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"The Story of Millets" (2018)
by Don Osborn 21 Mar '22

21 Mar '22

Worth the read: ICAR-Indian Institute of MIllets Research's "The Story of Millet" is a good overview of the history and current status and production of millets worldwide. At 110 pages it's a quick read, and very accessible to non-specialists. There's a particular focus on India, which is understandable not only given the origin of this publication, but also the fact that that country has historically been a "crossroads" of millets from Asia and Africa. However the book does a decent job of mentioning uses of millets in other parts of Asia, as well as Africa, Europe, and the US. The Story of Millets was published in 2018 (India's national year of millets) by Karnataka State Department of Agriculture, Bengaluru, India with ICAR-Indian Institute of Millets Research, Hyderabad, India. It was compiled and edited by B Venkatesh Bhat, B Dayakar Rao and Vilas A Tonapi of ICAR-Indian Institute of Millets Research, Hyderabad; with input from: Prabhakar, B.Boraiah, and Prabhu C. Ganiger (All Indian Coordinated Research Project on Small Millets, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, India) "This document is for educational and awareness purpose only and not for profit or business publicity purposes" The book is available online, for free, to read or download. For example, at: https://www.millets.res.in/pub/2018/The_Story_of_Millets.pdf (PDF) https://docslib.org/doc/164956/the-story-of-millets (text-based reader) Table of Contents: 1. Understanding millets...... 1 Sorghum...... 3 Pearl millet...... 3 Finger millet...... 5 Foxtail millet...... 6 Proso millet...... 7 Barnyard millet...... 7 Kodo millet...... 9 Little millet...... 9 Brown top millet...... 10 Tef...... 10 Fonio...... 12 Millets are smart foods...... 13 2. Millets are powerhouses of nutrition...... 15 Millets confer good health and protection against non-communicative diseases...... 17 Millets benefit diabetics...... 19 Millets and degenerative diseases...... 19 Anti-nutrients in millets – challenges and solutions...... 20 3. The Origins of Millets...... 22 4. Journey of Millets...... 26 Proso and foxtail millet- Journey starts from China...... 26 China to Eurasia...... 31 Millet in the Roman Diet...... 33 Japan and Korea...... 34 Journey to India...... 35 Millets in USA...... 36 Sorghum, pearl millet and finger millet were domesticated in Africa...... 37 The Indian domestication of sorghum...... 38 Sorghum in China...... 38 Sorghum arrived in the Near East...... 40 Sorghum comes to USA...... 41 Barnyard Millet has its origins in Japan...... 44 Millet of Indian origin...... 44 Niche millets of Africa...... 46 5. History of Millets in India...... 48 Introduction of millets...... 48 Millets from China...... 48 African millets transformed late Harappan agriculture in Western and Peninsular India...... 49 Millets in the Vijayanagara Empire...... 51 Indian Millets...... 51 Millets and Mughals...... 53 Kingdom of Hyder Ali...... 54 The colonial India...... 55 6. Millets Today...... 57 Millets in Asia...... 59 Millets in Africa...... 61 Millets in USA...... 62 7. Millets in India...... 65 Production Scenario...... 65 Consumption pattern...... 70 Exports of millets...... 70 8. Millets are Least-demanding and Most Sustainable Crops...... 71 Production and management of millet crops...... 72 Millets are eco-friendly crops...... 74 9. Utilization of Millets...... 77 Food and Food industry use...... 77 Millets in modern foods...... 82 Malting and fermentation...... 84 Other uses...... 87 Millets for animal feed and fodder...... 87 Millets for green forage...... 88 Stover from millet crops...... 89 10. Research on Millets- Indian Scenario...... 90 Establishment of ICAR-Indian Institute of Millets Research and AICRP on Sorghum...... 91 Launch of All India Coordinated Pearl Millet Improvement Project (AICPMIP)...... 93 Establishment of All India Coordinated Millets Improvement Project (AICMIP)...... 93 Summary of developments in millets production in India in the R&D era...... 95 Technological developments...... 96 Ongoing R&D efforts...... 96 11. The Fall and Rise of Millets...... 98 Millets have been considered ‘not important’ or inferior...... 99 Fall of millets in India...... 100 Reasons for loss of area and production...... 101 Millets are rising again...... 102 R&D efforts and policy push for millets in India...... 102 12. Millets in Karnataka...... 105 Bengaluru- the millets food hub...... 106 Karnataka at the forefront of promoting millets...... 106 13. Millets were the first crops; Millets are the future crops...... 109 Why millets are the future crops...... 109 --

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Northern limits of pearl millet & proso millet cultivation?
by Don Osborn 21 Mar '22

21 Mar '22

By chance came across two items about pearl millet being grown pretty far north in North America (45°N-46°N), and wondered if those would represent the the furthest north it has been grown. Pearl millet - Pennisetum glaucum - is one of the millets domesicated in Africa. In this case probably in the West African Sahel (~14°N-18°N). It does well in intense heat with a minimum of rainfall, so it's really at home in the tropics of Africa and South Asia. The two northern North American locations were the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in the US, and the Province of Quebec in Canada: - A 2007 article/1 mentions work with pearl millet at the Centre de recherche agricole de l'Outaouais/2 in Quebec, Canada. They were interested in potential use of this plant for ethanol (which I'm not advocating but it is of interest). Also, according to the story, one farmer in Pontiac, Quebec apparently had been planting pearl millet around his potato fields to deter insects. - Ten years later, there was a pearl millet trial in Hardwood, in Michigan's Upper Peninsula./3 "The 2017 research trial was designed to look at the effect of planting rates and mowing frequency on biomass production. For comparison, proso millet, which was domesticated and is primarily grown in temperate zones, apparently can be cultivated up to 54°N./4 DO Notes: 1. "Une plante à découvrir," Radio-Canada, 12 Sep 2007 https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/366591/millet-pele-plante 2. https://www.credetao.com/ 3. Jean, Monica, and Erin Hall, "2017 Upper Peninsula pearl millet trial," MSU Extension, 4 Dec. 2017 https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/2017_upper_peninsula_pearl_millet_trial 4. Habiyaremye, Cedric, et al, "Proso Millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) and Its Potential for Cultivation in the Pacific Northwest, U.S.: A Review," Frontiers in Plant Science, Vol. 7, 2017 https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2016.01961

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"Millet(s)" as an "ethnotaxanomical" concept?
by Don Osborn 15 Mar '22

15 Mar '22

Tangential to our main concerns, but relevant to questions about "millet(s)" as a concept that hops across several sub-families of Gramineae, I've been musing on the notion of ethnotaxonomy. Ethnotaxonomy - which may be defined as "The naming system for plants and animals used by a particular ethnic group"/1 - is a term from anthropology. As such it may seem a bit unusual to apply to English language usage. However, I'm thinking a good case could be made for ethnotaxonomy as a framework to respond to questions about how to define millets. Ethnotaxonomy might also be useful in approaching issues of translation in the International Year of Millets that I've looked at elswhere./2 We know that "millets" include several cultivated species of Gramineae that have common names including the word "millet." The umbrella term "millets" may also be extended to some or all of several other Gramineae, notably sorghum, fonio, teff, and Job's tears. So the concept of "millet" seems to have become somewhat generic, and been applied to other species in common names, and then also to additional small grained cultivated Gramineae. All of which seems rather ethnotaxanomical. Anyway, will leave it there for the moment. DO Notes: - Wiktionary: https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/ethnotaxonomy - "Translation problems ahead of the International Year of Millets (IYOM2023)?" (blog post) https://donosborn.org/blog/2022/translation-problems-ahead-of-the-internati…

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Re: [Collab] Collab Digest, Vol 2, Issue 10
by D. Joni Kindwall-Moore 19 Feb '22

19 Feb '22

this is awesome! thanks ᐧ On Sat, Feb 19, 2022 at 5:20 AM <collab-request(a)lists.millets2023.space> wrote: > Send Collab mailing list submissions to > collab(a)lists.millets2023.space > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > https://lists.millets2023.space/mailman/listinfo/collab > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > collab-request(a)lists.millets2023.space > > You can reach the person managing the list at > collab-owner(a)lists.millets2023.space > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of Collab digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Re: A diagram showing classification of millets (Don Osborn) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Sat, 19 Feb 2022 13:19:58 +0000 > From: Don Osborn <donosborn(a)protonmail.com> > To: "collab(a)lists.millets2023.space" <collab(a)lists.millets2023.space> > Subject: Re: [Collab] A diagram showing classification of millets > Message-ID: > > <MJ_8rcWj_FRk3H-Q8VMndk62yvzfpuaDjgsJe3SLwuIQBtfuPiE_ve5lHn0-1gExDXj04FH8tcjyJoBrvDdR0xZrGmLc57L9vPSLsGM1tgs=@ > protonmail.com> > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > Another and hopefully final revision - the citation is more formal. Please > use this if sharing, and discard previous versions. Thanks. DO > > ------- Original Message ------- > On Thursday, February 17th, 2022 at 10:50 AM, Don Osborn < > donosborn(a)protonmail.com> wrote: > > > Here is the same image copied from the article it was published in, > including a citation of the latter (at bottom). The resolution is also a > bit better, If you wish to share, please use this one. > > > > DO > > > > ------- Original Message ------- > > On Wednesday, February 16th, 2022 at 1:17 AM, Don Osborn via Collab < > collab(a)lists.millets2023.space> wrote: > > > >> Here is a diagram showing the classification of millets (and other > cereals, as well as pseudo-cereals) within the plant kingdom. It was > created by Joanna Kane-Potaka, a co-author of a paper in which it was > published: > >> Vetriventhan, M., Azevedo, V.C.R., Upadhyaya, H.D. et al. Genetic and > genomic resources, and breeding for accelerating improvement of small > millets: current status and future interventions. Nucleus63, 217?239 > (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13237-020-00322-3 > >> > >> DO >

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Message for Peace Corps on FB
by Don Osborn 19 Feb '22

19 Feb '22

This is what I have for posting on one or more RPCV / Peace Corps Facebook groups. First post (pending admin approval) is at https://www.facebook.com/groups/2211043945 Post follows: Did you as a PCV encounter "millet" as a food for the first time? And then back in the US discover "millet" in the grocery bulk section that wasn't at all the same thing? Well, it gets even more complicated. There are about a dozen cultivated species of what we call "millet." each with its own growth characteristics, taste, and nutritional profile. They're essential for many smallholder farmers, and of broader interest in a time of climate change and high dependence on a few major crops. So the UNGA has declared 2023 the "International Year of Millets" A small group of volunteers (lower case "v," but including RPCVs) is gearing up to plan for how to take advantage of the Year to raise the profile of millets as foods & crops, in the US and North America as a whole. Think of it maybe as a dietary and agronomic 3rd goal activity? If of interest, please check out our FB presence at https://www.facebook.com/groups/243364207975357 Don Osborn Togo 79-81, Mali 83-85, Guinea 85-86 Niger APCD 00-04

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A diagram showing classification of millets
by Don Osborn 19 Feb '22

19 Feb '22

Here is a diagram showing the classification of millets (and other cereals, as well as pseudo-cereals) within the plant kingdom. It was created by Joanna Kane-Potaka, a co-author of a paper in which it was published: Vetriventhan, M., Azevedo, V.C.R., Upadhyaya, H.D. et al. Genetic and genomic resources, and breeding for accelerating improvement of small millets: current status and future interventions. Nucleus63, 217–239 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13237-020-00322-3 DO

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Information bulletins, millets profiles, newsletter, press kit, school kit(s)
by Don Osborn 18 Feb '22

18 Feb '22

The idea of information bulletins has been raised (in person). I'll try here to expand that to a general concept, along with some topical ideas. I also mention a number of other informative publications we probably should be thinking of. Feedback on any or all of this will be helpful. In general, info bulletins will help sketch out the dimensions of the NAMA initiative and potential lines of action during the International Year of Millets. These should probably come out this year as part of establishing identity, planning, and potential funding applications. During the Year itself, this effort might continue, altho my thinking is that the major topics should be addressed before 2023, and then perhaps expanded on selectively during the Year. Once the Year begins, the main publication efforts of NAMA probably will be around information (profiles) on the individual millets (month-by-month), and probably a periodic newsletter./1 The intention to offer info bulletins and an eventual newsletter could be mentioned in the concept note we're working on. Some suggested topics for the info bulletins: * What is "millet," and what are "millets"? (fundamental questions) * Why North America? (why this regional focus for an international year on crops/foods that are more important in other regions; this might develop my 3 Feb 2022 mail on "Why the focus on North America?"/2) * Background on International Year of Millets (situating the current discussions, acknowledging the focus on smallholders in much of the world, millets and ag in the time of climate change) * Current status & trends of millets - overview (this might include info like that in Rob Myers' Missouri extension technical bulletin, along with info on what millets are used for what & general market trends) * History of millets in North America (this actually goes back to Native American collection or cultivation of a few species we don't hear of, and including info on when other millets came to the region, the short boom in foxtail millet cultivation, etc.; millets may be minor here, but they ain't new) * Health & nutrition (what are the key benefits to all of consuming millets, with attention to specific issues like gluten-free and Type 2 diabetes) * Current trends in millets research * The import market for millets in North Amreica (a wide range of millets and millet products are imported and sold in specialty stores or online) * Millets for animale (feed, forage, and bird food) * About NAMA All of these need to be thought of as parts of a larger information strategy. And from a practical standpoint,they could double as web content. In tandem with the above (and also leveraging the work on it) we probably should be thinking about a press kit or media kit,/3 and a kit(s) for classroom use at some level(s). Very quickly, you begin to see how much work could potentially be involved. Don Notes: 1. Wrt newsletters, here's a summary for future reference, "Why Must All NGOs Send an Email Newsletter?" http://www.contentknockout.com/blog/why-must-all-ngos-send-an-email-newslet… 2. https://lists.millets2023.space/mailman/private/collab/2022-February/000003… 3. A useful intro to press kits from a business angle, "Why A Good Press Kit Is Essential -- And How To Make One," is at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescommunicationscouncil/2018/02/26/why-a-g…

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NAMA logo
by Don Osborn 17 Feb '22

17 Feb '22

Thanks to Joni for designing this logo for the North American Millets Alliance (NAMA). It captures the sense of this effort being concerned with millets both as crops and as foods. Any future evolution of the logo (as organization logos always seem to evolve) should, IMO, also call out these two complementary perspectives. DO

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"Teff Market 2021" & "Teff, A Rising Global Crop"
by Don Osborn 12 Feb '22

12 Feb '22

I'm looking at information on a report about the global market for teff: Global Teff Market Development Strategy Pre and Post COVID-19, by Corporate Strategy Analysis, Landscape, Type, Application, and Leading 20 Countries (360 Research Report, 27 April 2021) https://www.360researchreports.com/global-teff-market-18118305 & Teff Market 2021 : Corporate Strategy Analysis, Competitive Landscape, Definition, Future Development Status with Top 20 Countries Data (News Channel Nebraska Central, 27 July 2021) https://central.newschannelnebraska.com/story/44391472/teff-market-2021-cor… The actual report is extremely expensive unless one can get a sample copy... Among interesting tidbits (teasers) from the articles is a list of "Major Players in Teff market": * Conagra Brands Inc. * SHILOH FARMS * Amandin Organic Products * CERES ORGANICS * Tobia Teff, THE TEFF COMPANY * Love Grain * Mama Fresh Injera PLC * Bob’s Red Mill Natural Foods * PROBIOS S.p.A. Curiously, the list of countries covered does not include the main producers, Ethiopia and Eritrea. The US & Canada are the North American countries in this list. An academic article may complement the above in geographic focus and information: Hyejin Lee, 2018, "Teff, A Rising Global Crop: Current Status of Teff Production and Value Chain," The Open Agriculture Journal, 12: 185-193 https://openagriculturejournal.com/VOLUME/12/PAGE/185/FULLTEXT/

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Facebook & other social media
by Don Osborn 09 Feb '22

09 Feb '22

The Facebook group is getting more subscribers. How I see that working out is that while this list (Collab) can be used for planning, the FB group can be more open to diverse kinds of contributions. If it gets busy, however, I'm not sure that I'll have time to manage it alone. It may be worth considering a page on LinkedIn. There is a Twitter handle - @NAmericaMillets - but I'm not actively posting there. Best to all, Don

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